Is Flooding Considered Storm Damage?

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding may accompany storm damage, but storms may also result in other types of damage. The clearest distinction between the kinds of damage caused by a storm involves the fact that most general commercial property insurance policies exclude flood damage. A separate policy obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer may be necessary to cover this kind of damage. Find out more about how damage from floods or storms can coincide along with the firm distinctions between the types of damage that may occur to commercial properties.

Flooding From Rain or Rising Water

A flood is caused by external water. There are three common origins of floodwater:

• Precipitation
• Rising bodies of water
• Storm surges

Flood damage tends to involve contaminated Category 3 water. This black water may contain chemicals, heavy metals, and microbes and calls for cleaning and disinfecting.

Water Damage Due to Storms

A storm may cause floods or backup sewers, but other adverse weather conditions can also result in water damage. Hail, high winds, ice, and snow lead to any of the following types of damage:

• Broken windows
• Roof leaks
• Cave-ins or collapses

External moisture can enter a structure through damaged external doors, windows, or roofing. This damage may take the form of saturated or stained building materials and mold growth.

Flood and Storm Damage Restoration

It is necessary to extract contaminated water from a flood or storm, tear out ruined building materials, and clean and disinfect the area before promoting fast drying. This process may take several days, depending on the damage.

A commercial building owner or manager should determine whether a building has suffered a storm or flood damage. This categorization will determine whether the damage is covered by a standard property insurance policy or calls for flood coverage. Both types of damage necessitate similar mitigation and restoration measures. A one-stop-shop can quickly clean and dry any type of damage caused by water.